Stumbled in from Connecticut

[BobF]

Hello from Connecticut, USA. I have in recent years been exploring the family history on my mom’s side, which is mostly Scottish. At age 62 I’ve acquired my very first kilt, a Black Watch by Edgar of Scotland, or, as I prefer to think of it, Munro Hunting, as I have a Munro third great-grandmother from the tiny village of Drumlemble, a short distance west of Campbeltown on the Argyll peninsula. Funny thing about this kilt, it was someone’s wedding kilt and was sold to me as fitting 38-42, which would have been fine, but when it arrived it fell right off. Measurement showed it was actually 46-50! I ended up bringing it to a local woman who does all the alterations for local piping and drumming groups, and now it fits. Yay! Included in the purchase was a Prince Charlie suit and vest, a sporran, etc.

I’m fortunate to live within a short walk of what the owner bills as the only Scottish pub in the state of Connecticut (though I think there might be another down the coast), run by a Glaswegian chef. He has Belhaven and Tennent’s on tap, and an excellent selection of Scotch whisky. Among the events there are a ceilidh on the first Friday of every month and Whisky Club on the last Thursday of every month (except November, when it would fall on Thanksgiving, so it’s moved a week ahead or back), which is usually followed by a Celtic group playing. It’s not uncommon to see someone in a kilt at the pub, and several bagpipers are regulars. (Funny thing: my great-grandfather, who was half McFarlane, used to drink in that same room in the ‘60s, at least three businesses and owners ago. Odd to think he might have been leaning on the same bar top that I now do. Maybe his ghost is hanging around in there.)

Quick question: which is the correct forum to post an event at the pub? For instance, there will be three evenings of happenings around Burns Night. Not specifically a Kilt Night, though there are sure to be many kilted people, but that forum seems to be the only one with a specific Connecticut subforum. Or does it belong in the Celtic Events and Highland Games forum?

We attended our first Highland Games this past October in Scotland, Connecticut. We had a great time and will be attending others.

I’m looking forward to learning a few things. I’m in the midst of making a sgian dubh (bought the blade blank from Atlanta Cutlery, was a little bothered to find it was made in India, but it’s not a bad blank) and I’ll be looking through those posts for ideas.

Photo is of me in my kilt on the day it came back from alteration, on my way down to the pub. (I did not bring the silly sword to the pub. “Silly” because it’s a cheap poorly-made-in-India thing no doubt meant to be nothing more than a wall hanging.)